Lowered Suspension + LTB = ?

Feilo · 2004-05-29

I'd like to hear about your experience(s) with lowered suspension and a Lower Tie Bar like a Cbar or AndyBar. I am running an Eibach Pro-System and have an AndyBar which scrapes (no surprise). I am considering removing the LTB but am reluctant to do so because of the difference the LTB made to my steering response. What say y'all?

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hwmike

· #2 · May 30, 2004

It depends on what tranny you have. I'm running Neuspeed springs and Konis, 1.5 drop, and use the CBar. I have a 5 speed, and there are lower parts on the car than the CBar. I have had no problems. I actually am scraping my mudflaps over speedbumps and backing out of driveways, but nothing under the car.
The granny trannies have issues with the CBar and clearance, I've heard.

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julianfang

· #3 · May 30, 2004

chas bar + 4 motion + HR sport springs + 4 people = Chas bar no longer on car. I drove over a metal plate on the road and everything cleared EXCEPT the c-bar. I loved that thing...for all 48 hours it was on my car.

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schmove

· #4 · May 30, 2004

I contributed to the weight in Julian's car that night....BANG!

I also ran a C-Bar and LOVED it. But one smack over a speedbump caused it to angle up and it started to rest on part of the exhaust. Therefore causing vibration.

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 31, 2004

Thanks fellow CB5ers and appreciate all your valuable inputs. I am running a Tip and that's a problem.

julianfang said:
chas bar + 4 motion + HR sport springs + 4 people = Chas bar no longer on car. I drove over a metal plate on the road and everything cleared EXCEPT the c-bar. I loved that thing...for all 48 hours it was on my car.

Bummer Julian - commiserations!

schmove said:
I contributed to the weight in Julian's car that night....BANG! I also ran a C-Bar and LOVED it. But one smack over a speedbump caused it to angle up and it started to rest on part of the exhaust. Therefore causing vibration.

The same thing happened to me last winter within 2 weeks of installing the AndyBar BEFORE I lowered! :shock: Its been angled back ever since and I had more bumps and thumps after I lowered, and the bar is angled back even more and is now causing the vibrations you described and is getting worse. I take it you now do not have the C-Bar installed any longer? If so, how does the drive differ from when you had the LTB on? Can you notice that's its not there? Does the suspension upgrades help? I had thought about going to the C-bar but it sounds like that may not be any better ...

I love that LTB!

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 1, 2004

Bump ...

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D.Passat00

· #7 · Jun 1, 2004

i have a 1.8t tip with the sofsports and the chas bar. the chas bar is the lowest thing on my car. i have to drive a little slow over bumps. other than that, no scrapes.i wouldn't put it on if i had the sports though.

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schmove

· #8 · Jun 1, 2004

Feilo said:
The same thing happened to me last winter within 2 weeks of installing the AndyBar BEFORE I lowered! :shock: Its been angled back ever since and I had more bumps and thumps after I lowered, and the bar is angled back even more and is now causing the vibrations you described and is getting worse. I take it you now do not have the C-Bar installed any longer? If so, how does the drive differ from when you had the LTB on? Can you notice that's its not there? Does the suspension upgrades help? I had thought about going to the C-bar but it sounds like that may not be any better ... I love that LTB!

I noticed that it wasn't there anymore. It maybe my imagination but the turn in/steering response "felt" better with the bar than without. But to run a large drop, means some compromises. Also IIRC, the chas bar has been redesigned since the first version that I had in order to increase the ground clearance.

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 1, 2004

Thanks for all the feedback. You guys are great :thumbup:

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NoneRock

· #10 · Jun 1, 2004

I have the Eibach springs + shocks + AutoSpeed DTS bar on a 5-speed and have had no clearance issues with my variant loaded up driving in NYC.

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jwilker

· #11 · Jun 1, 2004

schmove said:
I contributed to the weight in Julian's car that night....BANG! I also ran a C-Bar and LOVED it. But one smack over a speedbump caused it to angle up and it started to rest on part of the exhaust. Therefore causing vibration.

Exact same thing with my andybar and a speed bump. No more.

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pacent

· #12 · Jun 1, 2004

My Andybar was installed for a couple of months before my car was lowered. I was driving down one of those streets where construction was still being done and I heard a big clunk. Well, a manhole was raised up on the street because the final layer of concrete was not poured in yet. It hit my Andybar and caused a nasty vibration going through the cabin. I took it off before last winter, and I had my car lowered the following spring.

The Andybar just hangs too low on the car. i bottomed out a couple times on it going quickly over bumps in the road when my suspension travelled a lot.

I can't imagine running a LTB on a lowered car around Chicago. The streets here are just plain awful.

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 1, 2004

pacent said:
I can't imagine running a LTB on a lowered car around Chicago. The streets here are just plain awful.

Sadly, too true. I have been literally hanging on to this notion since Jan when I lowered. Well, it may be curtains for the AndyBar soon ... nooo

BTW, pacent, r u goin' to the June 27 GTG? I probably can't make it

...

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pacent

· #14 · Jun 1, 2004

I'm not sure yet. If Tim gets around to removing his gauges, then I'll probably come and try to install it at the GTG. Otherwise, I might show up in the GF's Z...depending on the weather.

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 9, 2005

Feilo said:
Sadly, too true. I have been literally hanging on to this notion since Jan when I lowered. Well, it may be curtains for the AndyBar soon ... nooo

The deed is DONE ... finally de-installed my AndyBar LTB and the "feel" was not as bad as I thought it would be. I ran with both the LTB and a PureMS upper strutbar (get one!) and the steering is precise but the front felt altogether too "tight". With the LTB gone, there is some looseness but not for the worse. I would say that the Eibach ProSystem/PureMS strutbar set-up works pretty well - I was under the impression that I would sacrifice quite a bit with the LTB gone, but apparently not so.

Well, that's it then and all that remains for me to say is: Anyone for a well used LTB (Andybar) for a Tip with no bolts (too rusted for me to re-sell)?

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Chas

· #16 · May 9, 2005

Alright, well, here are the pictures of the new, lower profile Tip C-Bar that I've been working on. There are several improvments to help with the ground clearance issues. But still, a massively lowered car and something sticking up in the road with one of these bars on is always going to be a problem.

Anyhow, the pictures:

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=706

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=703

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=704

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=705

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=707

Let me know what you think!

See less See more

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crew217

· #17 · May 9, 2005

Chas said:
Alright, well, here are the pictures of the new, lower profile Tip C-Bar that I've been working on. There are several improvments to help with the ground clearance issues. But still, a massively lowered car and something sticking up in the road with one of these bars on is always going to be a problem.

Anyhow, the pictures:

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=706

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=703

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=704

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=705

http://groups.msn.com/vwpassatgls/lowertiebarpics.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=707

Let me know what you think!

What's the difference? I noticed that the bolts are recessed and that there is no separate midsection. Is the bar itself thinner or are most of the improvements made in regards to the protruding bolts?

Dave

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Feilo

Discussion Starter · #18 · May 10, 2005

Your LTB looks really good Chas :thumbup: , but I am done with LTB's for now. I can now be a little bit more relaxed about speed bumps and such ... as a "wise" man once said:

pacent said:
I can't imagine running a LTB on a lowered car around Chicago. The streets here are just plain awful.

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D.Passat00

· #19 · May 10, 2005

how much more clearance does it give chas?

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Tiptronic

· #20 · May 10, 2005

This maybe too late..but anyways, thought i'd share my experience. I truelly love the feel that the LTB (Andybar) provided for my 99 Passat 1.8t Tip wagon. After i've lowered her w/ Eibachs Pro system, i was a bit concerned w/ the bar hitting some objects, and that concern became true about a year and a half ago. I was driving to work along a local canyon pass (was raining hard the entire wee morning hours. It was still dark at (5am) and as i came around a progressive curve, it was too late for me to notice that a small rockslide had occured. I had no choice but to run over some rocks--one particularly a size of a melon-- and Bang!. As i look up the rearview mirror-- i see "dust" clouds" (even though it was misty) --cause i practically pulverized the rock!.
I can then feel a slight 'vibration noice' on the underside--and i stopped for a quick look..and there it was.. the LTB was angeled up. When I got home that day.. i straightened it out as much as i can..and got rid of the vibration.. But I was noticing a slight 'clunk' after driving around the block. As i checked it again..the right side mounting area-- the actual mounting point for the LTB's bolts- was practically ripped.. i can see that it can be straightened out and welded..but i figured to just take the Bar off. And havent' put it back on since...

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